- First-ever YouFor2032 Regional Para Testing Day held in Townsville to uncover North Queensland's future Paralympic talent.
- Queensland Academy of Sport Para Unit continues record growth, identifying 64 athletes across 18 sports since launching in 2025.
- Crisafulli Government is delivering the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games for all of Queensland, after 1,200 days of Labor Games chaos.
Queensland's search for its next Paralympic stars has gone regional, with the Queensland Academy of Sport hosting its first YouFor2032 Regional Para Testing Day, as the Crisafulli Government continues to strengthen para sport pathways in Queensland.
The event in Townsville on 29 July marks a major step in Queensland's push to build the nation's strongest Paralympic pathway ahead of Brisbane 2032, giving aspiring athletes in North Queensland the chance to be discovered.
The Crisafulli Government is working to cement Queensland's place as the home of Australian sport and a world leader in para sport.
This milestone follows the rapid growth of the Academy Para Unit, which recently welcomed its largest-ever intake of 24 athletes.
The Para Unit has identified 64 athletes across 18 sports and is on track to more than double Queensland's pipeline of future Paralympians ahead of Brisbane 2032.
The Para Unit is delivered as a partnership between the Crisafulli Government, the Australian Institute of Sport and Paralympics Australia and supports athletes from grassroots participation through to elite competition, strengthening para sport pathways.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a Games for all of Queensland, after 1,200 days of Games chaos under Labor.
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said with less than six years until the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, identifying and developing future talent across every corner of the State was more important than ever.
"We know outstanding Para sporting talent exists right across the State, and today's event is about making those opportunities more accessible for all Queenslanders," Minister Mander said.
"The Crisafulli Government is working to ensure Queensland is a world leader in para sport and in the past 12 months, the Queensland Academy of Sport has expanded its Para Unit to record levels and strengthened talent pathways.
"Taking the first regional Para Talent Search to Townsville is the next step, ensuring future Paralympic stars can be discovered no matter where they live."
Janelle Poole Member for Mundingburra said it was great to have the first YouFor2032 Regional Para Testing Day in Townsville.
"It's fantastic to see the Queensland Academy of Sport bring the YouFor2032 Regional Para Testing Day to Townsville, creating more opportunities for talented people in North Queensland to explore a future in Para sport," Ms Poole said.
"Regional communities are home to incredible athletes, and initiatives like this help ensure geography is not a barrier to pursuing sporting dreams.
"By bringing talent identification programs directly into our communities, we're giving more Queenslanders the chance to be discovered and supported on their journey."
Queensland Academy of Sport CEO Troy Ayres said it was exciting to see the amount of sporting talent in North Queensland.
"Hosting the YouFor2032 Para Talent Search in Townsville is an important step towards making sure geography isn't a barrier to reaching the Paralympic pathway," Mr Ayres said.
"We're seeing incredible potential right across Queensland. We want to connect people who may not realise there's a pathway into Para sport and give them every opportunity to compete at the highest level."
Paralympian and Queensland Academy of Sport Para Unit Lead Blake Cochrane said bringing the program to Townsville was about creating opportunity closer to home.
"For many people in regional communities, travelling to access high performance programs can be a significant barrier. By coming to Townsville, we're helping remove that barrier," Mr Cochrane said.
"You don't need an elite sporting background. We look for potential and connect athletes with the sport where they can thrive.
"It's incredibly rewarding to see athletes we've identified already competing nationally and internationally, and we're excited to see what this next group can achieve on the road to Brisbane 2032."
The YouFor2032 Talent Search, driven by RACQ, allows aspiring athletes to complete initial testing through the YouFor2032 app before progressing to face-to-face testing with the Academy Talent team, where they can be matched to sports that best suit their abilities.
